Water toy powered by replaceable, dissolving, gas emitting powder agent

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy for floating on the surface of water and a lower hollow capsule removably connected to the upper toy for submerging the capsule in a body of water. The capsule has an interior section for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent that dissolves in water, and a removable cover for opening and closing the capsule. The capsule also has first and second openings located at the two ends of the capsule for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of the two openings for propelling the upper toy on the surface of the body of water. The lower hollow capsule is removably connected to the upper toy by a rotatable connecter for attaching the capsule to the toy. The powder agent is a tablet that dissolves in water and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through the openings of the capsule for propelling the toy through the body of water. The toy has the configuration of a duck, boat, car, or any other toy.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a water toy that is powered by a powder agent or a bath salt.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parents often struggle to get their children to bathe. In order to encourage children to bathe, numerous bath toys have been created in order to stimulate children's imaginations while not depriving them of playing with their toys while they are bathing.

More specifically, such bath toys range from water guns, flotation devices, motorized boats that are specifically designed for use in a bathtub. These toys are often used to not only coax children to get into the bathtub, but to also induce children to regularly take baths. Such toys must not only be resilient to breaking and easy to clean, but they must also be fun and engaging to children. However, the problem with such bath toys is that they are so engaging that they distract children from washing themselves or preoccupy their attention so much that they refuse to permit their parents to wash them while they are playing with their bath toys.

To address this problem, “toy” shaped soaps and bath toys having integral soap dispensers have been created, so as to encourage children to not only play with their toys while in the bath, but to also wash themselves with the soap dispensed as they bathe. However, many of these toy shaped soaps and bath toy soap dispensers are one dimensional, in that the only function they serve is that of a soap dispensing apparatus.

Therefore, there is a need to provide fun engaging toys that can be used in the bath tub (or in any body of water), that not only encourage children to regularly bathe, but also encourage children to wash themselves while in the bath tub. The present invention provides a novel floating toy for use in water having a replaceable propulsion capsule attached to the bottom of the toy for propelling the toy through water using the replaceable, dissolving fizzing powder, e.g., bath salts tablets, that impart cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding water, including children's bath water.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

There are prior art bath toys having internal compartments containing replaceable, effervescent tablets that produce a gas propulsive force for propelling the toy on the surface of the bath water as the tablets dissolving in the water.

For instance, prior art U.S. Pat. No. 1,612,794 to Frederick C. Bender discloses a children's toy, having an interior compartment therein containing a replaceable effervescent source, and a discharge port. The discharge port is in fluid communication with the interior compartment such that as the effervescent source dissolves when it comes into contact with water it generates a propelling gas. The gas is expelled through the discharge port which in turn generates a force that propels the toy on the surface of the water in a desired direction.

Prior art U.S. Patent App. Pub. No. 2019/0314734 to Brenda P. Cayton, et al. discloses a bath toy that is capable of moving across the water through the production of bubbles. The disclosed bath toy includes an interior compartment housing an effervescent source that generates a gas upon contact with a fluid, such as water. The bath toy further includes a discharge port connected with the interior compartment such that the effervescent source generates a gas (e.g., bubbles) that exits through the discharge port and propels the bath toy through the water.

Also, prior art U.S. Pat. No. 8,074,305 to Toyohiro Matsuda discloses a bath toy having a suction port that dissolves a bath additive that causes the bath toy to move forward.

However, the aforementioned existing bath toys fail to disclose a toy for use in water, having an upper toy removably connected to a lower hollow capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent. The toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent. The lower hollow capsule is removably connected to the upper toy by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water, including through bath water.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that is fun and captures children's imagination, such that the toy encourages children to get into the bathtub and to bathe regularly.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy that is removably connected to a lower hollow capsule by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent, wherein the toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent for use in a bath tub that imparts cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding bath tub water which helps cleanse and detoxify the bather's body.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials and labor, and has a low cost to the consumer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy for floating on the surface of water and a lower hollow capsule removably connected to the upper toy for submerging the capsule in a body of water. The capsule has an interior section for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent that dissolves in water, and a removable cover for opening and closing the capsule. The capsule also has first and second openings located at the two ends of the capsule for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of the two openings for propelling the upper toy on the surface of the body of water. The lower hollow capsule is removably connected to the upper toy by a rotatable connecter for attaching the capsule to the toy. The powder agent is a tablet that dissolves in water and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through the openings of the capsule for propelling the toy through the body of water. The toy has the configuration of a duck, boat, car, or any other toy.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the power driven toy having the configuration of a duck, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the power driven toy having the configuration of a ship, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the power driven toy, a capsule, and a powder agent below the toy, showing the powder agent inside the capsule;

FIG. 4 is a partial, enlarged, front perspective view of the capsule, showing the powder agent inside the capsule;

FIG. 5 is a partial, enlarged, rear perspective view of the capsule;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the bottom of the toy for connection to the capsule, and showing the capsule disconnected from the toy; and

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the toy connected to the capsule.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the invention discloses a power driven toy 10 for propelling the toy through a body of water, such as in a bath tub. The power driven toy 10 has an upper toy 12 for floating on the surface of water and a lower hollow capsule 14, shown in FIGS. 4 through 7, that is removably connected to the upper toy for submerging capsule 14 in a body of water. FIGS. 1 and 2, also show powder agent 22 removed from capsule 14.

The upper toy 12, a shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is designed to float on water and can have the configuration of any type of toy that is capable of moving through or across a body of water, such as a vehicle, including a boat, a ship, a canoe, a car, a train, a plane, an animal, a duck, a fish, a dolphin, a cat, a dog, or other toys. In addition, the upper toy 12 is capable of functioning as a toy and floating independently of the lower hollow capsule 14. The upper toy 12 is preferably made of expanded polystyrene or hollow plastic to maintain a desired buoyancy.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the lower hollow capsule 14 is removably connected to the upper toy 12 by a circular rotatable connecter 16 for attaching capsule 14 to toy 12. The rotatable connector 16 further includes a female cylindrical upper connector section 16 a attached to the lower surface 12 a of the upper toy 12, and a male cylindrical lower connector section 16 b attached to the upper periphery of the lower hollow capsule 14. The upper and lower connector sections 16 a and 16 b of the rotatable connector 16, also include locking pins 18 that facilitate the mateable engagement of the lower connector section 16 b of the lower hollow capsule 14 into the upper connector section 16 a of the upper toy 12.

More specifically, as shown in FIG. 6, the lower hollow capsule 14 is connected to the male cylindrical lower connector section 16 b by a vertical connecting member 15, such that the shape of the connected lower hollow capsule 14, vertical connecting member 15, and the male cylindrical lower connector section 16 b collectively have a “T shaped” configuration.

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, when the upper toy 12 needs to be connected to the lower hollow capsule 14, the user simply rotatably inserts the lower connector section 16 b of the lower hollow capsule 14 into the upper connector section 16 a of the upper toy 12 in a clockwise movement. The user then twists the lower hollow capsule 14 relative to the upper toy 12 in a clockwise movement, until the locking pins 18 of the upper and lower connector sections 16 a and 16 b lock in place and secure the lower hollow capsule 14 to the upper toy 12.

In order to disconnect the lower hollow capsule 14 from the upper toy 12, for cleaning purposes, for example, the user simply rotates the lower connector section 16 b of the lower hollow capsule 14 relative to the upper connector section 16 a of the upper toy 12 for cleaning in a counterclockwise direction. The user then continues to twist the lower hollow capsule 14 relative to the upper toy 12 in a counterclockwise direction until the locking pins 18 of the upper and lower connector sections 16 a and 16 b disengage so as to separate the lower hollow capsule 14 from the upper toy 12.

The lower hollow capsule 14, shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, is designed to be submerged under water and is preferably constructed of solid plastic. It further contains an interior compartment 20 for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent 22 that dissolves in water and produces a fizzing gas e.g., carbon dioxide gas (CO2).

Preferably, the capsule 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 5, has a cylindrical shape, having a front end 24 and a rear end 26. Further, the front end of the capsule has a first opening 28 while the rear end of the capsule 26 has a second opening 30. When water comes into contact with the powder agent 22 in the submerged capsule 14 through the first and second openings 28 and 30, the powder agent dissolves and emits carbon dioxide gas (CO2), in the form of fizzing bubbles through the first and second openings 28 and 30. The emission of the carbon dioxide gas (CO2), in the form of streams of fizzing bubbles through the first and second openings 28 and 30 produces a force that propels the upper toy on the surface of the body of water.

The powder agent 22, shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, is preferably in the form of a dissolvable tablet form and may include any chemical substance that produces sufficient gas, such as carbon dioxide gas (CO2), when in contact with water. Preferably, the powder agent 22 is a “bath bomb” generally made from three ingredients: baking soda, citric acid, and cornstarch. Bath bombs may also include additional ingredients such as dyes, perfumes, soaps, or Epsom salt.

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the hollow capsule 14 has a removable cover 24 for opening and closing capsule 14. The capsule 14 also has first and second openings 30 and 32 located at the two ends of the capsule 14 for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of the two openings 30 and 32 for propelling the upper toy 12 on the surface of the body of water. The powder agent 22 is a tablet that dissolves in water that flows into the capsule 14 and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through the openings 30 and 32 of the capsule 14 for propelling the toy through the body of water. As stated, the toy may have the configuration of a duck, a boat, a car, or any other toy.

The fizziness of the bath bomb, the preferable form of the powder agent 22, occurs as a result of the chemical reactions of baking soda (NaHCO₃) and citric acid coming into contact with water in capsule 14. Baking soda quickly dissolves in water, and the positively charged sodium (Na+) breaks apart from negatively charged bicarbonate (HCO3−) to produce the “fizz” or gas. The citric acid also dissolves, with a single hydrogen ion (H+) separating from the rest of the molecule. Then, that positively charged hydrogen from the citric acid and the negatively charged bicarbonate from the baking soda mingle, very quickly undergoing a series of reactions. One of the end products is carbon dioxide (CO2) for propelling the toy 12. Because carbon dioxide is a gas, it forms small bubbles in the bath water, creating a fizz.

While various embodiments of the power driven toy 10 for propelling the toy through a body of water have been described, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example, and not limitation. For example, the shape, materials of construction, and design of the power driven toy 10 for propelling the toy through a body of water as illustrated and described are not intended to be limiting.

Advantages of the Present Invention

It is an advantage of the present invention to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water, including through bath water.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that is fun and captures children's imagination, such that the toy encourages children to get into the bathtub and to bathe regularly.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having an upper toy that is removably connected to a lower hollow capsule by a rotatable connecter to facilitate ease of use and cleaning of the toy.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent, wherein the toy is propelled through water by the emission of gas from the dissolving powder agent.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water having a capsule containing a replaceable, dissolving powder agent for use in a bath tub that imparts cleansing and detoxifying properties to the surrounding bath tub water which helps cleanse and detoxify the bather's body.

Another advantage of the present invention is to provide a novel power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to materials and labor, and has a low cost to the consumer.

A latitude of modification, change and substitution is intended in the foregoing disclosure, and in some instances, some features of the invention will be employed without a corresponding use of other features. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the spirit and scope of the invention herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A power driven toy for propelling the toy through a body of water, comprising: (a) an upper toy for floating on the surface of water; (b) a lower hollow capsule removably connected to said upper toy for submerging said capsule in a body of water, said capsule having an interior section for receiving therein a replaceable powder agent that dissolves in water, a removable cover for opening and closing said capsule, first and second openings located at the two ends of said capsule for forming and transmitting streams of gas out of said two openings for propelling said upper toy on the surface of said body of water; and (c) said lower hollow capsule being removably connected to said upper toy by a rotatable connecter for attaching said capsule to said upper toy, wherein said rotatable connector has multiple pins around the periphery thereof for disconnecting said lower capsule from said upper toy.
 2. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said powder agent dissolves in water and produces carbon dioxide that is emitted through said openings of said lower capsule for propelling said upper toy through said body of water.
 3. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said powder agent is a bath salt tablet that dissolves when water enters said first and second openings of said capsule.
 4. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper toy has the configuration of a duck, boat, car, or any other toy.
 5. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper toy and said lower capsule are made of a material selected from a group consisting of expanded polystyrene or hollow plastic elements.
 6. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower capsule has a cylindrical shape.
 7. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 1, wherein said lower capsule is connected to said rotatable connecter by a vertical connecting member.
 8. A power driven toy in accordance with claim 7, wherein said lower capsule, said rotatable connecter, and said vertical connecting member collectively have a T-shaped configuration. 